Bacteriophage lysis system

Bacteriophage-mediated lysis is the regulated process by which bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) destroy their bacterial host cells to release progeny virions. This process typically involves a coordinated action of several bacteriophage-encoded proteins: holins (which create lesions in the bacterial membrane), endolysins (which enzymatically degrade the bacterial cell wall), and often spanins (which facilitate the final disruption of the cell envelope in Gram-negative bacteria). Alternate lysis mechanisms exist, often involving single-membrane proteins that trigger endogenous bacterial autolysins. This lysis is essential both for the phage life cycle and, in clinical or biotech contexts, may be leveraged for antibacterial therapies or for controlled release of cellular contents

Other names

Bacteriophage-mediated cell lysisPhage lysis systemPhage-induced lysis

Bacterial cell wall degradation via endolysins - Pore formation in the bacterial membrane via holins - Membrane fusion via spanins - In some phages, activation of bacterial autolysins by single membrane proteins (e.g., protein E of φX174)